Lagos State governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has mourned the passage of the publisher of the Nigerian NewsDirect newspaper, Samuel Ibiyemi.

Mr Sanwo-Olu described Mr Ibiyemi’s death as shocking and a colossal loss to journalism and the media industry. 

Mr Ibiyemi died of pulmonary embolism on Tuesday at the Babcock University Teaching Hospital, Ilishan Remo, Ogun State.

In a condolence message by his chief press secretary, Gboyega Akosile, on Wednesday, Mr Sanwo-Olu said Mr Ibiyemi’s death was painful and heartbreaking.

He noted that the rich experience and knowledge of the deceased will be sorely missed. 

The governor, who also commiserated with the deceased’s family, the management and the staff of the newspaper, said Mr Ibiyemi had written his name in gold, and the legacies he left behind are immense and unforgettable.

“Ibiyemi was a brilliant, hardworking and versatile journalist, who had distinguished himself in the media profession as a reporter, business editor and energy editor before establishing his newspaper, Nigerian NewsDirect,” the governor said.